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Council Tax Reduction

Changes to Council Tax Reduction effective from 1 April 2016

From 1 April 2016, there will be two changes to how the Council calculate your Council Tax Reduction.

A new Working Age Council Tax Reduction Scheme will come into effect requiring all working age households, including those currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, income support and employment and support allowance to pay a minimum of 20% towards their Council Tax.

Council Tax Reductions for people who have been self-employed for more than 12 months and spend 16 hours or more on self-employed activities will be calculated using the UK minimum wage or living wage as a Minimum Income Floor (MIF) when calculating any entitlement. This means, for any self-employed fitting the criteria applying for council tax reduction the Council will assume a gross weekly Income of at least the minimum/living wage multiplied by 35 hours.

Why are we doing this?

From 1 April 2013, Council Tax Benefit was abolished and every Council had to replace it with a local Council Tax Reduction scheme. At this time Central Government, who previously funded Council Tax Benefit in full, also reduced the funding available for local Council Tax Reduction schemes leaving local authorities having to fund the shortfall.

Due to continued cuts in Government funding and a need to strike an appropriate balance between protecting those on low incomes and still maintaining essential services it has been decided that from 1 April 2016 less support will be provided by the scheme. These changes were approved at Full Council on 18 November 2015.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme Rules

We have provided calculations below to give you an idea of how much 20% of your Council Tax bill could be, based on the average Council Tax rate for the district. However, if you are also affected by the changes to how Self-employed income is treated then the amount you will pay is likely to be more. Unfortunately, we are unable to give you an idea as how much extra you will be required to pay at this time as your personal circumstances effect this part of the calculation.

Property Band

Expected YearlyPayment

WeeklyContribution

Expected Payment with a single person discount

WeeklyContribution

A

£228.80

£4.40

£171.60

£3.30

B

£266.94

£5.13

£200.20

£3.85

C

£305.07

£5.87

£228.80

£4.40

D

£343.21

£6.60

£257.40

£4.95

E

£419.48

£8.07

£314.60

£6.05

F

£495.74

£9.53

£371.81

£7.15

G

£572.01

£11.00

£429.00

£8.25

H

£686.42

£13.20

£514.81

£9.90

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Council Tax Reduction scheme

Click on the link below to take you to the FAQs

Exceptional Hardship Payment Scheme

We have an exceptional hardship payment scheme to provide additional support if you receive council tax reduction but are experiencing difficulties. There is no statutory right to a payment from the fund as it is at the discretion of the Council.

Find out more and apply now

Exceptional Hardship Payment Scheme Policy

Select the link below to take you to the Exceptional Hardship policy.

Advice Surgeries

If you are having difficulties in paying your Council Tax we are holding Advice Surgeries between 10:00 and 12:00 on a Wednesday and Thursday at the Council Offices, 1 Grove Road. We may be able to offer advice on how to meet your council Tax liabilities, for example by spreading the payments over 12 months.